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Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has rejected a Taliban demand for the release of 5,000 prisoners as a condition for talks with the Afghan Government and civilians, included in a deal between the United States and Islamist militants.

Key points:

Mr Ghani said the Taliban's demand for the release of its prisoners cannot be a pre-condition to direct talks

US President Donald Trump rejected criticism around the deal and said he would meet Taliban leaders in the near future

The accord said the US and the Taliban were committed to work to release prisoners as a confidence-building measure

His remarks come against the backdrop of the difficulties US negotiators face in shepherding the Afghan Government and Taliban towards intra-Afghan negotiations, according to Western diplomats.

"The Government of Afghanistan has made no commitment to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners," Mr Ghani told reporters in Kabul, a day after the deal was signed in Qatar to start a political settlement aimed at ending the United States' longest war.

Former president George W Bush ordered the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

But Mr Ghani said the Taliban's demand for the release of its prisoners cannot be a pre-condition to direct talks.

The accord said the US and the Taliban were committed to work expeditiously to release combat and political prisoners as a confidence-building measure, with the coordination and approval of all relevant sides.

It said that up to 5,000 jailed Taliban would be released in exchange for up to 1,000 Afghan Government captives by March 10.

However, on the issue of the prisoner swap, Mr Ghani said: "It is not in the authority of United States to decide, they are only a facilitator."

It indicates the new US-Taliban deal may already face obstacles, as there is no direct agreement between the Afghan Government and the Taliban.

Saturday's accord was signed by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, witnessed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

After the ceremony, Mr Baradar met foreign ministers from Norway, Turkey and Uzbekistan in Doha along with diplomats from Russia, Indonesia and neighbouring nations, the Taliban said — a move that signalled the group's determination to secure international legitimacy.

The accord said 5000 Taliban prisoners would be released in exchange for up to 1000 Afghan government captives.(AFP: Noorullah Shirzada)